NBA Preview Feb. 15-21: Big Stars on the Trade Market

Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond hit the trade market, Luka goes off, and LeBron's acting flops. Plus the weekly schedule and more.

Even though the NBA trade deadline isn’t until March 25, there are a couple of big names who are already on the market. According to ESPN, Blake Griffin will be out of the Pistons lineup until they can find a team to take on his hefty contract, which is more than $76 million over the next two years. If no GMs are willing to swipe right on the six-time All-Star, Griffin could have his contract bought out.

Then there’s Andre Drummond of the Cavaliers, who wore a sweatshirt that read “farewell” while sitting out Cleveland’s loss to the Clippers on Sunday. The 27-year-old is playing on a $28.7 million dollar expiring contract, which ESPN says makes “matching up salaries in a trade something of a formidable challenge.” Still, Drummond is likely to draw interest from at least a handful of contenders, including the Lakers, who announced on Monday that Anthony Davis would be out two to three weeks with an achilles injury.

The point we’re getting at is that Griffin and Drummond (and Davis) will have plenty of time to sit around and watch Sling TV this week, same as you. Here is the NBA’s national TV schedule for the next seven days, along with last week’s highlights, postponements and more. Use the link at the bottom of this page to sign up for Sling Orange + Blue with Sports Extras.

NBA Basketball

National TV games Feb. 15-21

*All games subject to blackout

Find a full schedule of NBA games HERE >

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Upcoming Game of the Week

Utah Jazz at LA Clippers

Friday, Feb. 19, 10pm ET, ESPN

Despite owning an NBA-best 22-5 record, it feels like we’re waiting for the Jazz to hit a false note so the teams from LA can assume their rightful place atop the Western Conference standings. We could be waiting a while. Despite losing Mike Conley for their past four games, the Jazz continued their torrid streak, and Utah has now won 18 of their past 19. They’ll face the Clippers twice this week, but could have a lineup advantage after Kawhi Leonard joined his teammate Paul George in street clothes last night. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he wasn’t sure when Leonard would rejoin the team after suffering a “left lower leg contusion” on LA’s recent road trip. George, who has missed the Clippers past five games, is listed as day-to-day as he deals with a right foot injury.

*Pro Tip: Use some of your 50 hours of free DVR service to record games and watch them whenever works best!

Sling TV Primetime Performance of the Week

New Orleans Pelicans center Zion Williamson and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić are two of the brightest young stars in the NBA and their primetime showdown on ESPN last Friday did not disappoint. Zion muscled his way to 36 points but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dončić, who erupted for a career-high 46 points in the Mavericks 143-130 victory.

Dunk of the Week

If there was a Dunk Hall of Fame, Brooklyn big man DeAndre Jordan would get in on the first ballot (along with another Jordan and Clarence “Coffee” Black). While the attention has understandably been focused on the big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, Jordan has been playing his part—a role that might look familiar to Clippers fans—by throwing down ferocious oops like the one above.

Smart Choice Assist of the Week

Grizzlies guard (and reigning Rookie of the Year) Ja Morant could have earned this honor twice with his game against the Hornets, both dishing out and receiving dimes. Morant’s in-bounds oop is sneaky (and we’re big fans of the in-bound oop), but his no-look, crosscourt hook pass to a wide-open Xavier Tillman later in the game was absolutely phenomenal.

*Pro tip: Watch out-of-market games with NBA Team and League Pass on Sling!

Lol of the week

The art of the flop is its own game-within-the-game and as Manu Ginobli—the Meryl Streep of flopping—could tell you, it truly is an art. But when done poorly, flopping is pure comedy. We had a couple Razzie Award-worthy performances this week from the stars of last year’s NBA Finals. First you’ve got Jimmy Butler writhing in “pain” for a full 30 seconds before popping up like a possum playing dead. Then there was LeBron’s flop on Friday against the Grizzlies, which kind of looks like the old empty-chair gag. LeBron’s acting was bad enough to earn him a warning from the league; let’s hope he gives a better performance in Space Jam 2.

Postponements

Tues. Feb. 16 - Spurs at Pistons (COVID Protocols)
Wed. Feb. 17 - Pistons at Mavericks (Weather)
Wed. Feb. 17 - Spurs at Cavaliers (COVID Protocols)
Wed. Feb. 17 - Hornets at Bulls (COVID Protocols)
Fri. Feb. 19 - Hornets at Nuggets (COVID Protocols)
Fri. Feb. 19 - Mavericks at Rockets (Weather)
Sat. Feb. 20 - Spurs at Knicks (COVID Protocols)

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